Fusible connecting terminal



Nov. 26, 1940. c. P. XENIS FUSIBLE CONNECTING TERMINAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 21, 1939 NOV. 26, 1940. I I c. XENls 2222,5412

FUS IBLE CONNECTING TERMINAL Filed Sept. 21, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 27 I22 6 3f 1 y (MW/M3 a Patent-ed Nov. 25, 194i? UNITED STATES PATENTFUSIBLE CONNECTING TERMINAL tion of New York Application September 21,1939, Serial No. 295,992

14 Claims.

This invention relates to fusible terminal connecting means of thegeneral type, wherein a cluster of limiter elements of fusible characterare interposed between an electrical bus bar or equipment terminatingdetail and the cables to be attached thereto. The limiter elements usedin this invention are of similar type and for similar purposes as thelimiter elements disclosed in my prior application for patent, filedJune 6, i939, and bearing the Serial No. 277,741.

One important object or the present invention is to provide a cluster ofinterconnected limiter elements, each having an individual cableattaching means.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide anarc-proof shell of novel construction for enclosing these limiterelements and so arranged that a separate arcing chamber is provided foreach fusible element.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of acompletely insulated cluster of limiters interconnected and formed withan integral extension projecting beyond the insulation and forming aconnection to a bus bar or electrical apparatus terminal detail.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a novel assemblyof such a device completely insulated and water-proofed and arranged toprovide an easy arrangement for taping the joints between the individualbranch cables and the terminal connectors.

With the, above and other objects in view, the invention consists ingeneral of certain novel details of construction and combinations ofparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate likeparts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of the completely assembled devicebefore connection of the cables.

Figure 2 is a part elevation, part section on the line 2-4 of Figure 1,and also showing one form of supporting means for the device and themeans for attaching the device thereto.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and showing a secondform of support and attachment.

Figure 4 is a reduced section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 but showingone cable connected to the device.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the base or main portion ofthe shell used in connection with this invention.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the top or complementary portion of theshell.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a partially assembled cluster oflimiter elements showing a means of interconnecting these elements andthe integral extension or stud.

The main portion IU of a shell includes a generally rectangular body 12,having its vertical and bottom edges rounded off. Projecting upwardlyfrom opposite sides of the body I2 is a low wall portion IS, the innerfaces M of which merge into the upper face l5 by curved portions l6.Extending up from the walls 13 are segmento-frusto-conical bosses l1,one for each branch cable connection provided in the terminal, the inneror opposed faces ll! of which form upwardly extending continuations ofthe walls l5. Formed in the face it.- of the body I2 is a longi--tudinally extending groove or recess l9 located centrally between thewalls IS. The bottom oi? this groove I9 is extended outwardly onopposite sides adjacent each end as at 20, and these outwardly extendingportions terminate outwardly at centrally slotted walls 2|. A channel 22is formed in the face l8 of each boss H, and these channels terminatedownwardly in recesses 23 which extend slightly below the bottom of thegroove I9. elements thermally from the shell portions, is formedcentrally oi the bottom wall of each channel 22. A circular opening 25extends vertically through the body at the center thereof, and screwreceiving openings 28 are provided on each side of the opening 25. i

The upper or complementary part H of the shell consists of a body 21having its longitudinal bottom edges rounded as at 28. The width of thebody 21 is such that it fits snugly the walls l3 and the rounded edges28 conform to and fit the rounded portions 16 of the member l0. Also,when the shell parts are assembled, the upper face of the body 21 liesflush with the upper faces of the walls l3. Segmento-l'rusto-conicalbosses &

29 extend upwards from the side portions of the body 21, and their outerfaces 30 engage the boss faces l8 when the parts are assembled, so thateach two bosses l1 and 29, when assembled, form a completefrusto-conical base having an opening extending downwardly from its top.Screw holes 3| are provided in the body 21 and are positioned toregister with the holes 26. Inclined channels 32 are formed in the lowerparts of the bosses 29 and extend downwardly to the bottom oi the Agroove 24, serving to isolate limiter body 21. The shell portions l andII are molded from a. non-conductive and arc-proof material, such as acomposition of cement and asbestos.

Seated in the groove i9 is a conducting bar 83 having notches 34, whichin the preferred embodiment of the invention are each located between anopposed pair of bosses II. In each notch is seated the central portion35 of a thin strip of conductive material, such as copper, the portion35 being secured in place by silver solder or the like. From each end ofthe portion 36, the strip extends outwardly and is curved upwardly as at38, the parts 34 forming fusible or limiter elements and being properlytapered in the manner shown in my aforesaid prior application to have asuitable temperature gradient. At the upper ends, the parts It mergeintegrally into wide strips 31 which fit in the channels 22 and projectabove the bosses to carry cable connector sockets II.

Beneath the bottom of the member III is located a nut 39, and throughthe openings 3! and 28 extend screws 4., which screw into threadedopenings 4i formed in the nut 88. The nut 39 is provided with a centralthreaded opening 42 wherethrough is screwed the threaded upper end 41 ofan extension integral with the conducting bar. As shown in Figures 2 and4, the extension is reduced at its lower end 44, while in Figure 3 thelower end of the extension is threaded as at 45. A rubber jacket 48 ismolded around the sides, top and bottom of all parts of the assembly sothat the shell is not only electrically insulated, but the jacket alsocovers the joint between the two parts of the shell, and thus rendersthe device water-tight. The jacket 46 also incloses the nut 39.

A terminal detail 54 serves to connect the under-cut portion 44 of theextension 43 to an electrical bus bar, switch terminal, transformerterminal or the like.

As another method of mounting the device, the structure shown in Figure3 may be employed. In this case, a washer 55 engages against the bottomof the boss 49 and is held in position by a nut 50, screwed on thethreaded end 45 of the extension. The extension passes through asuitable opening 51 in a bus bar 58, and a second nut 59 clamps the busbar firmly between it and the nut 50, the bus bar itself being heavyenough to support the fusible connecting terminal.

In connecting a cable to one of the terminals, the arrangement shown inFigure 4 is preferably employed. As there shown, the end of the cable 60is stripped of insulation, as at El, and inserted in the socket II whereit is secured by suitable means. In the preferred embodiment, theindented compression type connection is used. Asbestos tape 62 is thenapplied around the socket 3' and the projecting end of the member 31 toprovide a smooth surface of uniform diameter with the upper end of theboss. The joint is then wrapped with rubber tape 63 which is carriedfrom the insulation of the cable down over the portion of the jacketwhich covers the boss and the rubber tape is similarly covered withfriction tape 64. Thus no water or moisture can enter the shell andshort circuiting is prevented.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fusible terminal connecting means comprising a terminalsupporting shell, including a main shell member and a complementaryshell member, and means for securing said members together. said mainshell member having a lower body portion provided with terminalreceiving recesses and having opposed pairs of upstanding bosses, saidcomplementary shell member having a lower body portion shaped to fit onthe main member between the bosses and having pairs of bossescomplementary to the first bosses and fitting thereagainst, the bossesof one of said members being provided with channels communicating withsaid recesses.

2. Ina fusible terminal connecting means comprising a terminalsupporting shell including a main shell member and a complementary shellmember, and means for securing said members together, said main shellmember having a lower body portion provided with terminal receivingrecesses and having opposed pairs of upstanding bosses, saidcomplementary shell member having a lower body portion shaped to fit onthe main member between the bosses and having pairs of bossescomplementary to the first bosses and fitting thereagainst, the bossesof one of said members being provided with channels communicating withsaid recesses, and with clearance grooves formed in the bottoms of saidchannels.

3. In a fusible terminal connecting means comprising a terminalsupporting shell including a main shell member and a complementary shellmember, and means for securing said members together, said mainshell'member having a lower body portion provided with terminalreceiving recesses and having opposed pairs of upstanding bosses, saidcomplementary shell member having a lower body portion shaped to fit onthe main member between the bosses and having pairs of bossescomplementary to the first bosses and fitting thereagainst, the bossesof one of said members being provided with channels communicating withsaid recesses, said main shell member having a conducting bar receivinggroove extending longitudinally between said recesses and being providedwith passages, each leading from the conducting bar groove to arespective recess.

4. In a fusible terminal connecting means, comprising a terminalsupporting shell including a main shell member and a complementary shellmember, and means for securing said members together, said main shellmember having alower body portion provided with terminal receivingrecesses and having opposed pairs of upstanding bosses, saidcomplementary shell member having a.lower body portion shaped to fit onthe main member between the bosses and having pairs of bossescomplementary to the first bosses and fitting thereagainst, the bossesof one of said members being provided with channels communicating withsaid recesses, and with clearance grooves formed in the bottoms of saidchannels, said main shell member having a conducting bar receivinggroove extending longitudinally between said recesses and being providedwith passages, each leading from the conducting bar groove to arespective recess.

5. In a iusible terminal connecting means, comprising a terminalsupporting shell including a main shell member and a complementary shellmember, and means for securing said members together, said main shellmember having a lower body portion provided with terminal receivingrecesses and having opposed pairs of upstanding bosses, saidcomplementary shell member having a lower body portion shaped to fit onthe main member between the bosses and having pairs of bossescomplementary to the first aaaama bosses and fitting thereagainst, thebosses of one of said members being provided with channels communicatingwith said recesses, said main shell member having a conducting barreceiving groove extending longitudinally between said recesses andbeing provided with passages, each leading from the conducting bargroove to a respective recess, and a rubber jacket surrounding bothshell members except at the upper faces of said bosses.

6. In a fusible terminal connecting means comprising a terminalsupporting shell includ ing a main shell member and a complementaryshell member, and means for securing said members together, said mainshell member having a lower body portion provided with terminalreceiving recessesand having opposed pairs of upstanding bosses, saidcomplementary shell member having a lower body portion shaped to fit onthe main member between the bosses and having pairs of bossescomplementary to the first bosses and fitting thereagainst, the bossesof one of said members being provided with channels communicating withsaid recesses, and with clearance grooves formed in the bottoms of saidchannels; said main shell member having a conducting bar receivinggroove extending longitudinally between said recesses and being provided with passages. each leading from the con ducting bar groove to arespective recess, and a rubber jacket surrounding both shell membersexce t at the uoner faces of said bosses.

7. In a fusible terminal connecting means comprising a terminalsupporting shell including a main shell member and a complementary shellmembenand means for securing said members together, said main shellmember having a lower body portion provided with terminal receivingrecesses and having opposed pairs of upstanding bosses, saidcomplementary shell member having a lower body portion shaped to fit onthe main member between the bosses a: having pairs of bossescomplementary to tlr rst bosses and fitting thereagainst, the of one ofsaid members being provided with channels communieating with saidrecesses, said main shell member having a conducting bar receivinggroove extending longitudinally between recesses and being provided withpassages, each leading from the conducting bar groove to a respectiverecess, in combination with a conducting bar fitting in said groove,conductor members-crossing said conducting bar and electricallyconnected thereto, said.

conductor members having portions at opposite sides of the conductingbar constituting limiter elements, terminal conductors formed integrallywith the outer ends of said limiter elements and extending up saidchannels to project above the bosses, cable attaching means carried bythe upper ends of the terminal conductors, and an extension electricallyengaged with said conducting bar and extending outwardly of said shell.

8. In a fusible terminal connecting means comprising a terminalsupporting shell including a main shell and a complementary shellmember, and means for securing said members together, said main shellmember having a lower body portion provided with terminal receivingrecesses and having opposed pairs of upstanding bosses, saidcomplementary shell member having a lower body portion shaped to fit onthe main member between the bosses and having pairs of bossescomplementary to the first bosses and fitting thereagainst, the bossesof one of said members being provided with channels communicating withsaid recesses, and with clearance grooves formed in the bottoms of saidchannels, said main shell member having a conducting bar receivinggroove extending longitudinally between said recesses and being providedwith passages, each leading from the conducting bar groove to arespective recess, in combination with a conducting bar fitting in saidgroove, conductor members crossing said conducting bar and electricallyconnected thereto, said conductor members having portions at oppositesides 01. the conducting bar constituting limiter elements, terminalconduc tors formed integrally with the outer ends of said limiterelements and extending up said channels to project above the bosses,cable attaching means carried by the upper ends of the terminalconductors, and an extension electrically engaged with said conductingbar and extending outwardly of said shell.

9. In a fusible terminal connecting means comprising a terminalsupporting shell including a main shell member and a complementary shellmember, and means for securing said members together, said main shellmember having a lower body portion provided with terminal receivingrecesses and having opposed pairs of upstanding bosses, saidcomplementary shell member having a lower body portion shaped to fit onthe main member between the bosses and having pairs of bossescomplementary to the first bosses and fltting thereagainst, the bossesof one of said members being provided with channels communicating withsaid recesses, said main shell member having a conducting bar receivinggroove extending longitudinally between said recesses and being providedwith passages, each leading from the conducting bar groove to arespective recess, and a rubber jacket surrounding both shell membersexcept at the upper faces of said bosses, in com bination with aconducting bar fitting in said groove, conductor members crossing saidconducting bar and electrically connected thereto, said conductormembers having portions at opposite sides of the conducting barconstituting limiter elements, terminal conductors formed integrallywith the outer ends of said limiter elements and extending up saidchannels to project above the bosses, cable attaching means carried bythe upper ends of the terminal conductors, and an extension electricallyengaged with said conducting bar and extending outwardly of said shell.

10. In a fusible terminal connecting means comprising a terminalsupporting shell including amain shell member and a complementary shellmember, and means for securing said members together, said main shellmember having a lower body portion provided with terminal receivingrecesses and having opposed pairs of upstanding bosses, saidcomplementary shell member having a lower body portion shaped to fit onthe main member between the bosses and having pairs of bossescomplementary to the first bosses and fitting thereagainst, the bossesof one of said members being provided with channels communicating withsaid recesses, and with clearance grooves formed in the bottoms of saidchannels, said main shell member having a conducting bar receivinggroove extending longitudinally between said recesses and being providedwith passages, each leading from the conducting bar groove to arespective recess, and a rubber jacket surrounding both shell membersexcept at the upper faces of said bosses, in combination with aconducting bar fitting in said groove, conductor members crossing saidconducting bar and electrically conrow conductor elements seated in saidgrooves and each projecting on opposite sides of said bar, saidconductor elements being fixed to said bar and the projecting portionsbeing formed to constitute fusible limiters, enlarged ends on saidelements, and cable sockets carried by said enlarged ends.

12. In a limiter device, a conducting bar having transverse grooves onone longitudinal face, narrow conductor elements seated in said groovesand each projecting on opposite sides of said bar, said conductorelements being fixed to said bar and the projecting portions beingformed to con stitute fusible limiters, enlarged ends on said elements,cable sockets carried by said enlarged ends, and an extensionelectrically engaging said bar.

13. In a fusible terminal connecting means comprising a cluster oflimiter elements, the outer end of each element having means forattaching a cable, all limiter elements interconnected and an extensionattached at the point of interconnection, insulating means encasing thelimiter elements, their point of interconnection, and the extension, theouter end of the extension and the outer ends of the limiter elementswhere cables are to be attached being free of insulation.

14. In a terminal connecting means comprising a cluster of conductingelements extending from a point of interconnection, each conductingelement including cable attaching means at its end and a limiter orfusible element between the cable attaching means and the point ofinterconnection, integral means of connecting this point ofinterconnection to external electrical bus bars or equipment terminaldetails, a sectional arcproof body enclosing the conducting elements andprovided with an arcing chamber and baiiies adjacent each chamber, andinsulation encasing the arc-proof body.

CONSTANI'INE P. xnms.

